International Cultural Exchange Service (ICES)

2025-2026 CSIET Certification Status: Full

Countries Served: Andorra, Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand,  Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen

Number of 2024-2025 Participants: 1325 semester or year J-1 inbound; 200 semester or year F-1 inbound, 40 semester or  year Outbound

Not-for-Profit Organization: Established 1991

International Cultural Exchange Services (ICES) has promoted a more peaceful world by advancing international awareness and cultural understanding to thousands of exchange students from all over the world for over 30 years. ICES provides a quality program by maintaining a caring and compassionate staff, many whom have been employed by ICES since its inception. ICES has 16 Regional Directors who work closely with staff in the following departments: Placement, Student Services, Compliance, Marketing, Training, and Recruitment, to provide a compliant, safe and rewarding year for students, host families, and schools.      

ICES Local Coordinators are dedicated to making the exchange experience a positive one for the student, host family, and high school. They provide orientations, counseling, and bi-monthly group activities for students and host families, and they work closely with local high schools to ensure the best possible experience for all parties.

ICES students are screened for emotional and intellectual maturity, English ability, and academic achievement. All ICES students must maintain appropriate grades and demonstrate a commitment to their course work while in the United States. ICES ensures that each student possesses an exemplary character, flexibility, and curiosity before being chosen to participate in the ICES program.

Inbound Academic Year Program—Foreign exchange students travel to the United States for ten months, during which time they live with a fully vetted and approved host family and attend a local high school. In addition to a pre-departure orientation, all ICES students are requested to attend a three-day orientation in New York or Los Angeles upon arriving in the United States and a local orientation in their host communities. The cost of our services includes the arrival orientation and insurance. Transportation and personal expenses are additional.

Inbound Academic Semester Program—Foreign exchange students travel to the United States for five months. They live with a fully vetted and approved host family and attend a local high school.  In addition to a pre-departure orientation, all ICES students who start the semester program in August are requested to attend a three-day orientation in New York or Los Angeles upon arriving in the United States and all students also attend a local orientation in their host communities. The cost of our services includes the arrival orientation and insurance. Transportation and personal expenses are additional.